Thanks for the reviews, they've all been positive with no nitpicking for once. Criticism is appreciated but flat out hating isn't cool. About his team, I have a very interesting idea so don't be disappointed, but just be patient. This fic takes off fast and hard, and I'll make sure not to rush just because I'm writing on my phone again. This small screen really sucks. Enjoy.
I do not own Naruto. I also don't own any more orange juice. Coffee it is then.
Now two feet away from the sexy Anko Mitarashi, Naruto continued forward thrusting a sharp jab, straight punch combo that was quite exceptional. The boy had stopped telegraphing his moves since he had started training in what he learned from the manga Holyland, but that didn't mean that his hits would connect. Fluidly moving to Naruto's side like a snake she easily dodged and countered, but instead of hurting him she lightly tapped his head with her fingertips.
"Dead." She said.
"I'm just getting warmed up!" Naruto replied turning and leaping into a swift low roundhouse kick. Anko just jumped off of the kick and snapped a light curving kick of her own lightly hitting Naruto's chest. Then her hands blurred and Naruto only felt the air on his eyes when she was already behind him with her hands gripping his head from the top and chin.
"Counter kick to solar plexus, could've broken the knee during the jump off however. Multiple strikes to the eyes from different curving angles. Finish by either breaking the neck or slamming. The body follows the head. So immobilization, death, blind, death. Looks like you just died twice at once Naruto." She said backing off from the boy.
Naruto looked at Anko with his jaw hitting the ground before he started bouncing around screaming, " Anko hime that was So Awesome! I didn't even see you move and when you jumped off my leg I didn't even feel it! What fighting style is that!?"
"Hebi. What was that kickboxing?" She asked.
"Sort of but I'm really creating my own style. I'd like to pass it down to my clan when I have kids some day." He answered.
"Hmm I don't think I'd want kids. Whiny little brats would probably cramp my style." She replied subconsciously attempting to turn him off from wanting her. She was starting to feel uncomfortable with the looks he was giving her. His eyes were just so deep, and the emotion he directed toward her was stronger and purer than anyone she'd met.
"I think you'd be an great mother. You could teach a daughter how to be beautiful and a son how to be strong. You could always protect them." Naruto said unaffected by her statement.
Once again chiding herself for slightly blushing she looked down and to the side and softly said," You don't even know me."
"Well duh that's why I'm talking to ya hime!" He enthusiastically replied with a bright smile. A smile that would forever be burned into Anko's memory.
Suddenly panicking at the new emotions she was feeling Anko did something she never did, she fled.
Right before disappearing via shunshin the purple haired kunoichi assassin told him," Thanks for the dango and the scuffle Naruto kun, but you don't want me. I kill people. I torture people. Just forget about me OK."
"Wait Anko hime!" Naruto yelled his hand outstretched as she vanished in a swirl of leaves. "DAMMIT!"
Naruto had seen a lot of women in his life. Especially considering his creation the sexy jutsu. Anko Mitarashi had been different from other women however. She was so exotic to the boy, and he thought that it must of been what they said love at first sight was. He didn't really know, but he knew it wasn't something merely physical. If soul mates existed, Naruto was pretty sure it was her. But then a horrible thought crossed his mind. Am I becoming a fanboy!? Ruthlessly squashing the feelings at the notion he thought to himself." I'm just gonna play it cool. She's a ninja so Jiji has to know her, and I'm not sure but maybe she gets treated like me. Now that I think about it some of the people in that dango place were saying something about snake bitch. Hebi. Snake."
Putting things together only increased Naruto's need to find out more about Anko. Deciding the sooner the better, he took off toward the Hokage tower with a flapping of wings.
"And that's why I want to know Jiji. You gotta help me! She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen!"
Naruto had just told the old man of his encounter with Anko and the Hokage easily pieced things together. Exhaling smoke after a long drag if bud, the Hokage said," Hmm. You have interesting taste Naruto. Interesting indeed. It seems that you had a strong affect on her, as she left here not too long before you showed up for a classified mission. I don't know when she'll be back, but I will tell you that she is treated with disdain in the village. Along with being a renowned member of torture and interrogation, she's also our top assassin. However the pertinent reason of her bad treatment is two fold. First off the way she acts is like how you used to act goofy when you really were sad except she acts violent and crazy."
"She didn't act that way with me though Jiji! She was more quiet and a little confused I think!"
"Perhaps you penetrated her mask" Sarutobi suggested as Naruto smiled at the thought.
"But you didn't let me finish. Listen closely Naruto. Do you remember my student Orochimaru I've told you about?" Jiji questioned.
Slowly nodding his head Naruto already started connecting the dots.
"Well it all started after he began kidnapping people and experimenting on them before he became a missing nin."
~A few minutes later~
Naruto was dumbfounded. His crush was the only student of the most vile man in the elemental nations most likely. Orochimaru's exploits since leaving the village had made things worse for the abandoned kunoichi, and no one wanted to have anything to do with her. And after a while she didn't want anything to do with them either, instead immersing herself in torture, interrogation, assassination, and the Forest of Death.
"What's the Forest of Death Jiji?" Naruto asked.
If the aged leader had known what the unpredictable boy would do, he never would have answered.
"Its training ground 44 in the outskirts of the village. The first Hokage created the huge chakra rich vegetation there with his wood style jutsu. Over time the animals and plants there grew very large from eating the fruits and vegetables. The animals that ate those animals grew larger, and so on and so on. Its a dangerous place if you can't handle yourself."
Calmly nodding his head with a fake look of fear but backflipping on the inside Naruto changed the subject.
"She doesn't have ANY friends!?"
"Well you could try Kurenai Yuhi, I'm sure my son Asuma could assist you." He said smirking at an inside joke.
"Thanks Jiji!" Naruto said actually bowing to the old man in respect for once.
"The boy has it worse than Asuma!" Sarutobi thought smirking more.
"Whipped! "The leader coughed before calling an Anbu who appeared in a shunshin.
"Please go and summon my son Asuma here at once." He politely ordered.
Disappearing suddenly it only took about two minutes before Asuma Sarutobi appeared a lit cigarette slowly burning between his lips.
In his usual laid back manner he asked," What's up dad?"
"Naruto here needs a favor from you, I'm sure he'll compensate you somehow." Hiruzen said looking expectantly at the Uzumaki.
"Hey Asuma I'll give you a pack of cigarettes if you can take me to Kurenai Yuhi." Naruto said not missing a beat.
"Can I ask why do you want see her?" Asuma asked curious.
He frowned at first when the boy blushed but he decided to help when Naruto explained." I have to ask her about one of her friends. It's really important to me!"
"Hmm alright but I want Marlboro Red 100s, a pack should cost 6 ryo."
"Done! Can we go right now?" Naruto asked.
Walking up and placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder, the two disappeared in a swirl of leaves reappearing in front of a small liquor store. Following closely behind Asuma, after entering Naruto looked at all the sake and alcoholic beverages until he saw the cigarettes behind the check out counter. Filing the cost of a carton of Marlboro Red 100s for later, the boy handed the ryo to Asuma and the man paid for them.
Now back outside, the two began slowly walking as Asuma patted the bottom of the pack, slightly loosening the tobacco within the death sticks so that they'd smoke better. Asuma was about to pull one out while they took an alley toward his secret girlfriend's house when Naruto stopped him.
"Hey Asuma you're a Jonin right?" The teen asked.
Nodding his head Asuma replied," Yeah. Why do you ask?"
The blonde boy grew excited as he thought of Masaki from Holyland, the national level street fighting boxer that coached Kamishiro and smoked cigarettes like Asuma.
Smirking with mischievous intent Naruto stopped in the alley saying," Well ya see I know we've met before but we never really talked or anything. You're the old man's son and I look up to him more than anyone, so I was just wondering what you were like. I know you know I'm Naruto, but I really want you to know the real me...so-"
His hands quickly rising in a boxing guard, the blonde boy rushed Asuma saying," This is the way I speak!"
"Wait Naruto where'd you-" Asuma's question was cut short as he dodged the sharp 1,2,1,2 punches Naruto sent.
Bobbing and weaving while spinning to the side Naruto hardly saw him move but in pure instinct he threw himself to the ground powerfully, spinning on his hands with his legs twisting like helicopter propellers. Asuma while slightly surprised by the maneuver jumped back just outside of its range and as Naruto swiftly rose already leaping into a low roundhouse kick Asuma just checked the kick expertly by raising his leg and draining its power. Naruto had no chance to defend the weak strike that hit his chest in the gap that his lowered arm left in his guard. Being pushed more than actually punched the blonde stumbled back nearly falling before regaining his balance.
"Oh Kami Asuma you're a Boxer!? Naruto exclaimed. He had briefly seen Asuma take a similar stance to his own, but it was far more smooth and natural looking, like the man could easily glide in any direction with ease.
Chuckling at the blonde's boldness and also the impressed smile the boy was giving him he answered," Not quite, but boxing is a large part of the style I've created. I also use kenjutsu with chakra blades that I can create, and I'm a master of the Monkey and Ape styles my father is famous for."
Naruto now had stars in his eyes and yelled," Cool! Can you show me a chakra blade!? Show me PLEASE pretty please."
Chuckling some more Asuma pulled a trench knife out and created a blade that was a little longer than three feet.
Examining the technique and remembering just how much chakra he could use Naruto bounced around in uncontrollable hyperactivity before he calmed and said." Whoa that's so Cool Asuma! I know you're probably busy but maybe you could teach me sometime. I promise I won't disappoint you and I'll buy you a freakin carton of Marlboro Reds for every lesson!"
Thinking of all the smokes he could get Asuma quickly replied." Sure why not. I haven't had much to do lately anyway. We could start after leaving Kurenais and there's a sanshou match a few days from now I was thinking about catching. You might as well be my wingman."
"You bet! Ya won't regret it Asuma senpai. But what's sanshou? He questioned as they continued walking to Kerenais house.
"It's like kick boxing, but throws are also allowed. It uses a lot of different grappling styles. This match happens to be a bit special though, as Cung Le the Sanshou champ is facing Buakaw the Kickboxing champ. It's an exhibition match for a charity so their belts won't be on the line, but it'll still be fun to watch." He really wanted to take Kurenai but she would be out on a mission that day, so he had a spare ticket anyway.
Asking a few more questions to Asuma along the way, after a few more minutes of walking they arrived at Kurenai's cozy house.
Knocking and waiting a few moments, they stood patiently waiting until the front door opened revealing a beautiful black haired woman with red eyes. Naruto slightly blushed which made Asuma frown but the blush quickly disappeared." Wow she's gorgeous but she's no Anko" Naruto thought comparing the woman to his crush.
"Hey Asuma kun I thought were coming later. Who's the kid?" She asked.
"Hes actually the reason why I'm here. He needs to speak to you about something." Asuma answered Kurenai wondering himself what the blonde wanted with his woman.
"Hey miss Kurenai I'm Naruto Uzumaki and I must say you're looking beautiful. Anyways I'm sorry about bothering you but I really need to ask you about your friend Anko."
Both Asuma and Kurenai's eyes widened considerably before she asked." A-Anko!? What exactly do you want to know?
Kurenai and Asuma's jaws dropped to the ground when the blonde started gushing about Anko like they had never seen anyone gush over another. The boy had it BAD.
"You do know Anko will be 30 in a few more years right? "Kurenai asked now very interested in this Naruto who obviously loved her best friend.
"I don't care. Anko hime is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen! I don't care if she's an assassin or interrogator, or even Orochimaru's student, I want her. Can you tell me more about her and what she likes?"
Smirking at a chance to get her friend back for constantly teasing her about Asuma she nodded saying." I'll tell you a little, but you need to find out about her from her personally if you really want her as much as I think you do. I can say she really loves dango, sake, and fighting. Then there's torturing and pranking people, and I got her into tea ceremonies which she loves. Anything more you should find for yourself, but that's her in a nutshell."
Surprised at the faraway look of desire in Naruto's eyes Asuma decided to chime in coughing" Whipped! Cough cough!"
"What was that Asuma kun?" Kurenai asked a dangerous look in her eyes.
"Uhh I was about to say that me and Naruto had something to do and if be back soon for our...training." Asuma said with fear in his eyes.
"Who's whipped!? Naruto coughed as Kurenai started laughing and Asuma frowned.
"Come on let's go Naruto." He said leaving with a wave over his shoulder as Kurenai stared at his back. He was actually pretty curious to see what the blonde boy could learn from him. It would be his first time teaching after all, and once again stopping at the liquor store to buy his carton cancer sticks, the two headed to a medium sized training ground, mostly chatting about Kurenai and Anko as a kinship formed between them.